GM names Dhivya Suryadevara CFO to replace retiring Chuck Stevens

Suryadevara, a local of India, joined GM in 2005 and has since been part of most of the Detroit-based firm’s essential enterprise selections, together with its sale of Opel to PSA Group final 12 months, GM’s acquisition of Cruise Automation, GM’s $500 million funding in ride-hailing firm Lyft and a $2.25 billion funding in Cruise final month.

She was GM’s treasurer 2015-17 and liable for the administration of enterprise and funding actions of GM’s $85 billion pension operations as CEO and chief funding officer for GM Asset Management 2013-17.

In 2012, Suryadevara was a part of a small staff that reduce about $29 billion from GM’s pension burden by shifting some salaried retirees to a gaggle annuity. “Nothing on that scale had been done before,” Suryadevara instructed Automotive News in 2016. “We didn’t really have a road map for how to structure and execute a deal like that.”

“Dhivya’s experience and leadership in several key roles throughout our financial operations positions her well to build on the strong business results we’ve delivered over the last several years,” Barra mentioned in an announcement.

She has been commuting between Detroit and New York, the place her husband and daughter stay.

Inforum CEO Terry Barclay instructed Automotive News thatthe announcement is one other indication of GM’s dedication to variety. Inforum, previously referred to as the Women’s Economic Club, is a Detroit-based group that promotes women-in-business initiatives.

“GM is proving to the auto industry that winning the war for top talent means not allowing half that talent — the female half — to sit on the sidelines,” Barclay mentioned. “They are reaping the benefit of a sustained and thoughtful commitment to inclusivity as a core talent management value.”